“I think this language is offensive, racist and contrary to the basic principles of the European parliament,” said Martin Schulz, president of the European parliament, who warned that there could be “consequences” for the Polish MEP.

Cecile Kyenge, a black Italian MEP, said Mr Korwin-Mikke's remarks had “stained the dignity” of the parliament.

It is unlikely that the disapproval will trouble the Polish politician as he appears happy to court controversy.

Mr Korwin-Mikke has called for women to be stripped of the vote because “they are not too intelligent,” and dismissed democracy as “the stupidest form of government”.

He has also called for the European Commission building to be converted into a brothel, and along with “raising hell” in Brussels has also promised to use his status as an MEP to “destroy the EU from within”.

But despite his reputation for making headlines for the wrong reasons, his New Right party won seats in the EU elections, garnering 7.5 per cent of the vote.

Referring to his latest brush with controversy, Mr Korwin-Mikke remained unrepentant.

“Apparently the use of the word ‘nigger’ is a sign of racism,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “I demanded an end to the minimum wage and the crushing power of trade unions, but everybody was howling ‘racist!’

"At the request of a left-wing MEP I am being investigated for racism," he added.